India is actively integrating advanced autonomous technology into its defense sector, but it's not yet a leader in the field.

Rather than just watching, India is investing in a variety of indigenous programs, establishing dedicated agencies, and partnering with the private sector to bridge its technological gap.

While significant progress has been made, the pace of development is often slower than its adversaries.

The Push for Autonomous Systems-

India's defense establishment has explicitly articulated the need to move from conventional warfare to a technology-driven model, integrating autonomous systems, AI, and robotics.

• Army: The Indian Army is inducting a range of unmanned systems. This includes robotic mules for logistics in high-risk zones and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) for surveillance and mine detection. It has also conducted large-scale exercises showcasing drone swarms, with one demonstration involving 75 aerial drones.

• Navy: The Indian Navy is actively developing its unmanned capabilities to compensate for its fleet shortages. A major project is underway to develop and build Extra-Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (XLUUVs), with plans for both 20-ton and 100-ton prototypes. These autonomous submarines are designed for long-duration intelligence, surveillance, and anti-submarine warfare missions.

• Air Force: The Indian Air Force is betting big on "manned-unmanned teaming" concepts. The HAL Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) project is a key initiative, with a "loyal wingman" drone (CATS Warrior) being developed to fly alongside manned fighter jets like the Rafale and Tejas. The DRDO is also working on the Ghatak UCAV, a stealthy, autonomous combat aerial vehicle.

Challenges and The Road Ahead-

Despite these ambitious programs, India faces significant hurdles in becoming a leader in autonomous defense technology.

• Technological Gaps: India still lacks indigenous capabilities in many critical areas, such as advanced jet engines and high-end sensors for drones. This creates a reliance on foreign suppliers and can lead to vulnerabilities.

• Budget and Bureaucracy: India's defense AI and robotics initiatives are still underfunded, with the Defence AI Project Agency (DAIPA) having a very small budget. Furthermore, the slow and bureaucratic procurement process often delays the induction of new systems.

• Pace of Development: While India is moving forward, its key adversaries, especially China, are making more rapid progress. China's military has a larger number of autonomous systems and a more developed AI ecosystem.

In short, India is not just a passive observer. It is actively and strategically integrating autonomous technology into its defense, but the pace is slow due to financial and technological constraints.